Ma Bistrass! – Remembering Roma and Sinti

22 July 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The Roma and Sinti Holocaust exhibition by Luigi Toscano opens on Kraków’s Planty 1–22 Aug. Powerful survivor portraits mark European Memorial Day.

The outdoor Roma and Sinti Holocaust exhibition opens on Kraków’s Planty from August 1 to 22. The show features portraits by Luigi Toscano and commemorates survivors and their descendants.

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About the project

Luigi Toscano, an Artist for UNESCO for Peace, created the series. Moreover, he focuses on intimate portraits that record memory and dignity. The City of Kraków cooperated on the exhibition. Therefore, officials will open it on the eve of the European Memorial Day for the Roma and Sinti genocide. Visitors can view the panels day and night. In addition, the public program will include short commemorations and information signs.

Roma and Sinti Holocaust exhibition in Kraków

The show presents moving portraits of people who survived Nazi persecution. Moreover, the images include descendants who continue family stories. The portraits aim to humanize a history often omitted in mainstream accounts. Consequently, the exhibition reminds visitors that genocide targeted many groups. The panels place personal faces into public space. However, the work does not offer a full historical survey. Instead, it invites reflection and conversation.

Why this matters for visitors

Kraków hosts many tourists and expats who may not know this history. Therefore, the exhibition offers visible context in a familiar city space. The Planty ring surrounds Kraków’s Old Town. In addition, it functions as a daily promenade for locals and visitors. Many people pass the site while walking to the university or tram stops. Consequently, the installation places memory directly on typical urban routes.

For foreigners, the display clarifies that Poland commemorates multiple victim groups. Moreover, it shows municipal support for inclusive remembrance. The portraits counter stereotypes and combat marginalization. Therefore, the exhibition matters to anyone who cares about human rights and contemporary diversity in Europe.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: The exhibition sits in a central, accessible public park. Public transport serves the Planty well, and trams stop close by. In Poland, official services use terms like ZUS (social security), NFZ (national health fund), mandat (fine), and PESEL (national ID number). Moreover, if you plan to attend a related civic event, remember to carry a valid ID. In addition, Poland enforces public order rules, and organisers sometimes require simple permits for gatherings.

Local educators and community activists will use the photos as learning tools. Moreover, some schools plan guided visits during August. The portraits often spark dialogue about identity and memory. Therefore, they help young people connect with difficult histories.

The exhibition also fits a broader European effort to remember the Porajmos. In addition, it aligns with museums and NGOs that study Roma and Sinti experiences. Consequently, international visitors can compare this local effort to other memorials in Europe. The images invite further research and visits to related archives and museums.

Finally, the show reminds Kraków residents and visitors of the daily presence of Roma and Sinti in modern Europe. Moreover, it calls for respect and legal protection for minorities today. Therefore, seeing these portraits can change how someone perceives local communities.

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